Roasts and get togethers…

Posted on by December 13, 2015

So… I got roasted by my boss and about 20 co-workers Saturday night… But I think I got the better end of the deal…

booze

And no, I’m not telling what went on… What goes on at the roast, STAYS at the roast… 🙂  Seriously, it was great to get together with these folks for one last time, and I’ll miss ‘most’ of them.

Then yesterday I met Murph, Proud Hillbilly, Stretch, Wandering Neurons, and John…

Anyhoo, we did Hooters by the Dulles Expo Center, and I gotta admit Murph got me. He told them it was my birthday… dammit…

Blog meet 12 13 15 smudged

After a great lunch and conversation, we adjourned to Wally World for Toys for Tots.

Toys

We pretty much covered all ages from three up, boys and girls, and I’ve got to admit I was surprised at how much the 3/4 basket of toys cost. We split it up, and then started looking for a Toys for Tots drop box…

How many

How many people does it take to find a Toys for Tots drop off???

More than we had… sigh…

Thankfully the Holiday Inn at Dulles Expo Center was still taking toys for them. We talked to a couple of very nice young ladies, and they put the toys in the manager’s office with others that guests had donated.

It wasn’t much in the big scheme of things, but we all left smiling…

Don’t know when or if I’ll get back to the area, but this was a nice way to leave. Good folks all, and I’ll miss the whole DC area blogging/shooting crowd.

Payback???

Posted on by December 11, 2015

I think most of us saw this last year…

Mark 1 plumbing

Turns out there is ‘more’ to the story…

From the Dallas Morning News, he’s filing a lawsuit over the fact that the dealer didn’t remove the decals as promised, and the poor guy has been getting death threats, etc. since…

Full article HERE.

It’s an interesting ‘trail’ as to how the truck made it all the way to Syria.

PPP was telling me one of their old ambulances is now in Africa, still in her company’s livery…

I was reminded there is a company out of India that apparently buys used medical ‘equipment’ and then resells it in various third world countries. I don’t know that ‘I’ would want to ride in one… Just sayin…

When one of my cousin’s daughters fell out of a tree and broke her arm in Uganda earlier this year, they wanted to send her by ambulance to Ethiopia. My cousin said they took one look at the ambulance, and hired a car and driver for the 28 hour round trip in a Land Rover.

He said it was slow and uncomfortable, but they got there and back in one piece.

Go Navy…

Posted on by December 11, 2015

Beat Army… 🙂

Old school…

Go Navy

h/t Brad L.

New school… Hokey as hell, but pretty funny too!

This is one of those games where the respective records don’t matter…

Any given day either team can win. But Navy DOES have the last 14… 🙂

If anybody is available…

Posted on by December 11, 2015

I’m getting together with Murph and Proud Hillbilly at Hooters by the Dulles Gun show at noon on Sunday. Sorry for the short notice, and doing it on a Sunday, but I just got back off my last road trip.

Last chance for cheap shots at me… 🙂

We’re going to Wally World afterward and buy some toys for Toys for Tots.

If you can’t make it, I understand, and I’ve really enjoyed all the interactions with you folks local to the DC area. It’s been real, and has actually been FUN! We’re all part of the ‘tribe’ so to speak, and I will miss the shoots, gun show runs, and the dinners and lunches. Borepatch is coming to the area, and I’m sure he’ll fill my place and y’all will be better for it! 🙂

If y’all get down to Texas, you’re more than welcome!

One last trip…

Posted on by December 11, 2015

Couldn’t get out the door without getting hooked one last time… Sigh…

image

Stopped off on the way south and I had to grab a quick lunch with LL from the Virtual Mirage. We pretty much decided we’re a couple of old dinosaurs who don’t play well with others in this politically correct environment today.

We also decided we were adrenalin junkies, based on our respective careers…LOL

Gotta admit he’s taken it to a new level, his new toy is a Ducati Diavel bike. It’s a damn beast!!!

Anyhoo, spent yesterday doing turnover with my relief, gave my last brief and slogged back to LAX. FIVE hours 15 minutes to go 113 miles… You folks that live on the left coast can KEEP this s**t… I thought it was bad in the late 90’s when I worked out here, but today it’s ridiculous!

Gah…

TBT…

Posted on by December 8, 2015

More military stuff…

I had told somebody about how big Hangar 1 at Moffett Field was, and they used to fly hot air balloons in the hangar during the airshows…

Of course the ‘individual’ called BS… Well, here’s the proof!

Flying hot air balloons in HGR 1

This is from 1989, I think…

h/t Timmy

Posted in TBT

‘Tis the season…

Posted on by December 8, 2015

I know I’m kinda beating the military drum this week, but if you have a bit of money to spare, or have a toy to donate, please remember Toys for Tots.

Started in 1947 by Major Bill Hendricks, USMCR in Los Angeles, California.  5,000 toys collected during a campaign before Christmas 1947.  The first toy is a handmade doll.

Today, they are up around 7 million toys a year donated to the program and delivered free to kids.

Toys for Tots

I put a baseball glove in. Can you spare a toy? Ladies, can you buy a toy for little girls? Us guys, well… We seem to be failures at buying for little girls.

What I’ve done in the past, was to have my kids and grandson pick out one toy each and I’d buy them and let them put the toy in the bin.

Or they will take a direct donation at their home page, HERE.

Thank you!

Tomb of the Unknowns…

Posted on by December 7, 2015

One last video from Saturday’s visit to the Tomb. This was a Boy Scout Troop laying a wreath.

Interestingly, the bugler is known as Sergeant ‘B’ for bugler, as it seems they almost never get the same bugler from the Army Band twice in a row. Also, you’ll note the Tomb Guard is in the ‘phone booth’. This is the only time s/he’s allowed to leave the mat during their walk.

Thanks to all who commented, and yes, it IS a worthy stop if you’re in DC.

Arizona Memorial…

Posted on by December 7, 2015

This is from 2007, but still worth the couple of minutes…

The Navy Hymn, verses one and four.

Verse 1: Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

Verse 2: O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walked’st on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

Verse 3: Most Holy Spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

Verse 4: O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger’s hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe’er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.

74 years…

Posted on by December 6, 2015

PH radiogram

A few survivors are left today, many in their late 90’s. All of them remember it as if it was yesterday…

I had never seen this color video, apparently it was ‘stored’ for almost 60 years…

It is up to us to never forget.

The attack on Pearl Harbor was the start of America’s entry into the war, first on Japan, then after Germany and Italy declared war on us, a true world war. HERE are memories of some of the Arizona survivors…

Don’t let PCism and revisionist history cause Pearl Harbor and WWII to fade from our history books. This was what the greatest generation gave their lives for. To keep America free, and defeat those who threatened our way of life.

They succeeded…